What Does Focus Status Mean In Nutshell?
The feature on the iOS devices like iPhone or iPad allows users to maintain a distance from their devices. Users implement this feature when attending an important meeting or if they’re included in a serious activity like studying, meditation, yoga and don’t want to get bothered or distracted by their phone notifications.
The share focus status feature is streamlined for iOS users. If you turn on this feature and someone tries to connect with you then they’re informed that you’ve got focus mode activated on your iPhone. Under such circumstances, they can choose the option to notify you back or can simply wait and connect after a while.
How Focus Mode Varies From Focus Status?
Launched in 2021, the focus mode is an update in the Focus Status feature. The main purpose of this feature is to shun notifications on your device and let you work, relax & chill peacefully. Turning on this feature drifts you apart from mobile notifications & refrains people from reaching out to you. You can make the best use of features while studying, driving, in office meetings, online examinations, etc.
Available Focus Modes:
- Do Not Disturb
- Driving
- Personal
- Sleep
- Work
You can go ahead with any of the above focus mode options or can either customize a distinctive focus mode depending on your activity. Using the customization feature you can also select from which contacts and mobile apps you want to receive time-sensitive and emergency notifications. The individuals in this list will be able to call or message you even if you share focus status with them.
Prominent Advantage Of Sharing Focus Status With Your Contacts
Enabling share focus status is effective only when you’re engrossed in an important task. It’s a healthy step one takes for finishing tasks on time with focused vision, commitment & dedication. The share focus status feature acts like a saviour and keeps you away from all sorts of unwanted distractions, and notifications until you achieve your target, take proper or finish off the relevant activity.
Subsequently, when you share focus status with your contact list you make them aware that you’re busy somewhere and not ignoring their calls or messages purposely. Like it saves you from unnecessary confusion & complicated situations which generally stumble on someone’s mind if their call gets disconnected from your side. The share focus status will give them a clear picture that you’re occupied somewhere & have not ignored them. Overall, it’s a helpful feature using which you can enhance your productivity.
| Quick Update: You can also schedule and automate the focus mode |
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Follow These 5 Steps To Enable Focus Status
The process to share focus status is extremely simple & easy. You just have to follow certain steps in the right manner for turning on this useful feature on your iOS device. Here’s how you can do it:
- Step 1: Go the Settings menu and search for the Focus option which is demonstrated with a moon-like symbol
- Step 2: To proceed further, choose the preferable Focus mode for yourself from the list ,i.e, Work, Driving, Do Not Disturb, Personal Sleep, etc.
- Step 3: Search for the ‘Focus Status’ option under the focus mode chosen by you. You’ll find this above the ‘Auto Reply’ option
- Step 4: Click on the Focus Status & turn on this feature
| Note: Once you enable the focus status feature all your contacts who are trying to reach you will be notified about the aspect that you’re away from your device at that moment. |
- Step 5: For switching to a different focus mode, the steps are the same. The change is only in the second option where you have to choose another focus mode as per your preference
| Quick Tip: The Focus Status feature is sometimes automatically activated on your device by default setting without your knowledge. In such cases, you can deactivate the feature if not required. However, you can also click on it for customizing messages on selected contacts which permits you to share your whereabouts with specific people only. |
Right Method To Share Focus Status With Selected Contacts
We all have a bunch of important people in our lives whom we are closely connected with and want them to know about our whereabouts. Turning on the focus status feature would abstain them from getting in touch with you hence you need to personalize & share your focus status with them & hide from the other individuals. Follow the steps mentioned below to hide or show the focus status with certain individuals.
- Step 1: Open the Message app on your iPhone or iPad
- Step 2: Search for the contact’s chat that you wish to silence
- Step 3: Tap on the Contact’s profile
- Step 4: Toggle the Share Focus Status option towards the right to turn it off. The selected contact won’t be able to contact you nor will see the Notify Anyway option. These restrictions would serve as a barrier for them from reaching out to you
| Note: Similar steps can be applied for enabling the Focus Status on the selected contacts from your list. Do make sure that your device is updated with the latest iOS version to access this feature. |
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Learn How To Deactivate Or Turn Off Focus Status On iPhone
As stated above, this feature gets activated by default which at times creates a problem for iOS users. It leads to missing out on important calls, meetings, messages, etc. iOS 15 users are majorly targeted with the default activation of the focus status feature. By now you’ve learned what does share focus status mean, how to turn it on & now we’ll brief you about the steps you need to follow for switching off this feature.
- Step 1: Go the Settings menu
- Step 2: Choose Focus & click on it
- Step 3: Click on the Focus Mode which you want to turn off on your device
- Step 4: Click on the Focus Status option & toggle towards the left. Once you do so, this focus mode would be stopped from getting shared amongst all your contacts
- Step 5: For turning off the Focus Status for the other Focus Mode repeat the steps above as the process is the same
| Note: The mere advantage of turning off the Focus Status feature is that your contacts won’t receive any updates about your Focus Status while you’re accessing the Focus Mode on your iOS device |
Beginner’s Guide To Set Up Custom Focus Status
The customization feature works well for individuals who indulge in varied productive activities and want to set up a focus status in pertinence with the same. Apart from Work, Driving, Sleep, and Personal, you can share a focus status for Fitness, Reading, Eating, Gaming, Meditation, Swimming & multiple other activities as well.
- Step 1: Open the Settings menu & choose the Focus option from your iOS device
- Step 2: Click on the ‘+’ button & then click on the Custom button. You can also browse the other options and learn more about them
- Step 3: Next, write down a unique name for your focus, select the colour, an icon that coordinates with your focus
- Step 4: Click on the ‘Next’ option & customise your focus according to your interests
Benefits Of Customizing Focus Mode
- Personalising the lock screen and home screen even if the focus mode is activated on your device
- Set up an adequate timeline to keep the focus on & off. You can customise the time when you want this feature to get turned off automatically
- You can select filters for apps & turn them on to receive notifications only that you wish to see
| For Example: If you filter messages, then you will only see conversations from the individuals whom you have selected in the ‘allow notifications from’ contact list |
Multiple Ways To Customise Focus Mode & Become Productive
- Fitness: Allow notifications only from the fitness or workout apps & completely focus on your physical exercise activities.
- Meditation: Listen to meditation audio on Spotify, Wynk, YouTube, or any other platforms and prohibit notification from all the other personal & work applications
- Cooking: Focus only on cooking & watch the specific recipe video on YouTube for assistance. Silence other updates & concentrate on making a perfect meal.
- Driving: Opt for the auto-reply messages while you’re driving or stuck in traffic. So whenever you’re driving your contacts will immediately receive the message from your end. You can go with the default message or can customise one
- Personal: Switch on to this focus mode & stop receiving all the work-related notifications within the non-working timeline. Spend more quality time with your friends & family members
- Sleep: To get a proper 8 hours of sleep, go to your bed by between 9-10:30 pm & mute notifications from all the apps & contacts. In addition, also alter from light theme to a dark theme
- Work: Stop the notifications from all social media platforms and allow notifications only from work-related apps or contacts
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How Does Focus Mode Differ From Do Not Disturb?
Focus mode is said to be a more advanced version as compared to DND. iOS users find it convenient to customise and share focus status for a specific period. The time-adjusting feature in focus mode attracts the users more as DND doesn’t offer it. Although, there are other aspects too on how these two are different from each other. Have a look at them below:
| Customization available for all the contacts & applications | Lack of customization in comparison to focus mode |
| You can choose the apps & contacts for which you wish to silence notifications | DND mutes notifications from all your apps and contacts |
| Your screen will beep & light up whenever you get notifications from selected contacts | Your screen doesn’t lights or beep if you receive any notifications |
Conclusion
In this hush-hush world where everyone is busy building their career for a secure future it’s necessary to take out some time for yourself too. The Focus Status feature is indeed a good initiative by Apple using which users can concentrate more on extra activities & upscale themselves in life. This feature not only helps in building a strong focus but also makes an individual well versatile in time management to complete the work under a stipulated deadline.
Undoubtedly, it works for students, working professionals, coaches, etc. You can anytime use this feature to avoid distractions whilst updating your known ones so that you don’t miss out on something urgent. Henceforth, we hope that by now you must have understood what does focus status mean and how it’s valuable in numerous ways. If you still have any doubts about this topic, drop your queries in the comments section and we’ll revert you for sure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q) How to connect my Lock screen to Focus?
Ans: For this open the settings and select focus. Choose the focus for personalization & then select the Lock Screen. You can now make a new lock screen, choose the former one or multiple ones for connecting with the focus and then click on the ‘Done’ option for final confirmation.
Q) Are incoming calls blocked during the focus mode?
Ans: Focus mode allows you to receive calls and with the help of the customization feature you can select from whom you wish to receive calls or messages during the focus mode.
Q) Does sharing focus also share the focus mode name?
Ans: No, the name of your focus mode is never shared with your contacts once you enable the share focus status. They’ll only receive notifications once that you’re in a Focus Mode but won’t know the reason behind it.
Q) How to permit time-sensitive notifications during Focus Mode?
Ans: To receive time-sensitive notifications from the known ones you need to activate certain settings on your device. Firstly, open the settings menu and choose the focus option. From the Allowed Notifications option, click on the Apps & then turn on the time-sensitive notifications.
